At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Nathaniel: Goddamn... I forgot how fucking itchy this shit is.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Heh... You look like a toy soldier, Nate. Where's your hat? :-P
Nathaniel (to Luc): Don't give your mom any fucking ideas! ... Hat wasn't part of the uniform, anyway. Aunt Poppy's been name-dropping an "EX-CLANNG office" as part of her menagerie of former ne'er-do-wells, & thinks I should look the part instead of looking like "one of the urchins in the tunnels all grown-up, sweetie."
Luc (to Nathaniel): Heh... Well, I've been being paraded around similarly so don't be too upset. Though, thankfully I'm not having to wear a nifty uniform, like you since I never actually worked for CLANNG other than freelance. Wanna smoke?
Nathaniel (to Luc): ... Ehhh, I'm supposed to be quittin'. My husband and kid are gonna... Fuck it! YES. Being this bound up's got me twitchy as shit. I was hardly ever like this in uniform when I WAS in CLANNG.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Here. You know you don't have to actually wear the damn thing. Just wear the jacket with your own clothes. I mean, you're not in CLANNG anymore. I think Pop-- my mother just wanted you to not look so much like one of the students. It might actually freak some of these kids seeing some bloke in a CLANNG uniform.
Nathaniel (to Luc): Thanks. That's not what Aunt Poppy told me. Heh. Course, I'll bet she was banking on me not wearing the whole damn thing. To tell you the truth, wearing this shit freaks me out. Wasn't the happiest of times... I'll tell you one fucking thing, I'm getting the hell outta these pants. Swear to god, these things are made outta steel fucking wool.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Heh. You know it's quite possible that my mother simply wanted to see what you'd do... Did you put up much of a fight? Or did you cave after she stared at you the way she does?
Nathaniel (to Luc): Goddamn it! I flat out fucking refused at first, but then she gives me the whole, "it's for the children" speech. I got fuckin' played.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Heh. Yeah you did... Don't feel too bad, she's been being sneakier a lot longer than any of us.
Nathaniel (to Luc): Heh heh. I don't feel bad. Aunt Poppy's been playing me as long as I've known her.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Ah, so you're used to it, then? Good to know. :-P
Nathaniel (to Luc): You will be too. Give it time. Thanks for the cigarette. I'm gonna go see if I can't find something to wear a little less heavy on the skull theme.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Fair enough. If you need another smoke, come find me. I'll be molding little minds with fencing techniques. Joy of joys.
Nathaniel (to Luc): Heh. Have fun. I still don't know what the fuck I'm doing here.
Luc (to Nathaniel): Don't say that too loud. If you're not careful someone will pop up and find you something... See ya.
A short time later:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Hey. I don't suppose I left any of my clothing in your office?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): No, but would you like to? ;-P
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Take a good long last look at me in this getup. I'm going to put on different pants, at least.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I thought that might be the case. There's a duffle in the closet with a change of clothes for you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): What? Oh my God! I fucking love you. You are a saint! Thank you...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You are very welcome, handsome.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I'll make it up to you later. Heh heh. I'll even wear the uniform if you like.
